Meet TS and Come See the Rest of the Garden...

Monday, November 11, 2013

Holiday Hiatus

The redesigning is done and the bulbs have been planted. The mulch sits patiently while the soaker hoses lie in tangled heaps, waiting their turn. It's almost time to just throw in the trowel and call it a year so that's what I'm doing.

I wish I could say that by next week I'll be snug in this hammock with a fruity drink in hand but I won't be. Instead I'll be preparing for Thanksgiving and up to my eyeballs in student projects. The closest I'll come to this photo is a mango smoothie and a slice of coconut rum cake. Big sigh....

It's time for a blogcation to focus on other priorities. But here are a few parting shots before we meet again in January.

My Stellar Pink dogwood and part of the dogwood garden

As much as I love my summer garden, I love the flaming colors of fall, too. There are no soloists in my fall garden, just a chorus in sweet harmony.

The 'Yoshino' cherry was a brilliant orange but most of the leaves fell before I captured many photos. It was a wonderful way to greet each morning.

'Peach Sorbet' blueberries have wonderful fall foliage and were designed to grow in a container. Plus, the berries are really sweet.

White heart leaf aster seed heads and purple blue plumbago foliage

Creeping raspberry has thick fuzzy foliage with a heavy texture that holds its fall color all winter.

These pots are right outside my kitchen door. I stuffed the pot of daylilies with snowdrop bulbs so I can see them as soon as they sprout. It's like a little present I planted for myself. :o)

These pots are across from the big daylily pot and were stuffed with hyacinth bulbs. I purposely planted the bulbs in pots close to the house for maximum impact. I wanted to be able to see them before heading out for work.

44 comments:

Awww, I'll miss you, Tammy. Busy, busy with student papers and the holidays, I'm sure. I wish I could sit on that hammock, too, but a Mango Smoothie actually sounds delish--I think I'll go make one right now. Have a pleasant blog break!

You've worked really hard.....enjoy your blog holiday and come back refreshed and ready to take us on your journey again.You will be missed.Now my rant...why would you tease me and write about coconut rum cake...is there a recipe involved somewhere???? please share...my lips are smacking already.

Anyway lovely sunny autumncolours shown on your pictures and first photo I am dreaming of. That mango smoothie and coconut rum cake are mouthwatering, your climate is so much better than ours. Wish you a happy blog holiday and looking forward to your news in January 2014.

Sweet dreams as your garden settles down for its winter sleep. The winter holidays are such a busy time, but make sure you find some time to rest and to dream of your lovely garden come spring. I'll look forward to seeing your posts in the New Year!

A very happy holidays to you lady!!!! Good luck with all the projects and we will see you in January!! Oh and I love that idea of a little present outside your window! You have given me some good ideas! All the best...Nicole

Your garden looks lovely in the autumn! It is a great idea to plant bulbs in containers close to the house. I'm sure you will enjoy them when they are showing up as early signs of spring. Wishing you a good time in your blogcation! See you next year!Christina

Patience is a virtue I do not possess. I pretend I have it for the sake of the very young and old but you are not either so it is possible I will be moaning and whining about your absence until January. Hugs...Sue

Happy holidays and good luck with everything, lovely to see the autumn colours in your garden. I have planted bulbs in containers too this year, to have them around my seating area so I can enjoy them more. Can’t wait for the first ones to emerge, I hope we get a much earlier spring than we had this year. Enjoy your blocation, see you when you’re back!

Going on hiatus, eh? I feel like I've been on hiatus even though it wasn't a planned thing. Just me being behind as usual. I love your fall colors. They are such a nice way to say goodbye to the growing season. Hopefully winter will be quick and painless for us all. Now if I can get those bulbs planted... See you next year.

Blogger Spotlight

Sometimes I just wander into blogs to see what they're about and occasionally I find one I love. Alain's blog Roche Fleurie Garden means 'rocks in bloom' in French. It is truly amazing to see the lush garden he nurtures in his thin, rocky soil. His blog is a keeper.

Garden Love

A big pile of gardening love goes out to Karin at Southern Meadows whose blog made me a better gardener. :o)

Check This Out!

I've started making a list of the online nurseries that don't use systemic neonicotinoid pesticides. As I have time to make more calls, hopefully I'll be able to add to this list. If you know of a nursery that is systemic-free, please let me know.

Helpful Butterfly Gardening Websites

About Me

I'm a passionate gardener who's gardened in South Dakota, South Carolina, and in upstate New York near the Canadian border. My current garden, in an overdeveloped Virginia suburb near Washington DC, has been my most challenging. My desire to create a true refuge for our native birds and butterflies has helped me battle unpredictable weather and compacted clay soil. My garden isn't perfect, but it's always a beautiful escape. Welcome to Casa Mariposa!!

Why All the Best Plants Come in a Box!

When I first heard about mail order plants, I mentally stuffed the notion in the same brain file as fake cheese, high waisted pants, and pathetic drug addicted annuals that only thrive when hooked up to a constant horticultural IV of Miracle Grow. I WAS WRONG!!! Although still not a fan of fake cheese, pants that come up to my ribs, or fertilizer addicted annuals, I am IN LOVE with the online nurseries listed in my blog!!! They all have outstanding customer service and incredible plants usually not found in local nurseries.

LAZY S'S FARMS - They sell so many plants, I spend days on their website trying to choose just a few to add to my garden each year. Because they are based in the southeast, I can always rely on them for spot-on accurate advice and planting info about each plant. The plants arrive quickly and in perfect condition. Their lists of special plants, such as plants that do well in dry shade or attract pollinators are especially helpful. They sell plants you won't find anywhere else! When I'm desperate for a particular plant, they are my first stop! They also show pictures of the plants growing in a garden setting which really helps me visualize how they'll look in my garden.

NICHE GARDENS - I stumbled upon Niche Gardens through a Google search, and thus, the love affair began! They are smaller than the other nurseries, but carry many fabulous southeastern natives. The plants always arrive in excellent condition with strong root systems. They sell many plants that thrive in our humid summers instead of collapsing into a mildewy mess. I can always count on them for zone 7 natives and efficient, friendly service. If I purchased every plant from them I have circled in their catalog, I'd have to annex my neighbors yard to grow them all!

PRAIRIE MOON NURSERY - Prairie Moon is a virtual Noah's Ark of native species. They sell bare root plants, potted plants, and wildflower seeds. Reading their catalog is like having a private tutor take you through an ecology/botany lesson. Their bare root plants are incredibly affordable and ALWAYS grow! The roots arrive moist and often with top growth. Even the seeds I've purchased from them sprouted this spring. I have beautiful drifts of various types of milkweed and other wildflowers in my garden thanks to Prairie Moon! Thanks to their affordable prices, I can always buy all the plants I want instead of having to choose just a few.